The music had stopped. All went quiet. Then a voice came through the crisp air like a whiplash.

‘Just what the hell do you think you are doing with my son, Trenchard?’ Oliver angrily pushed his way through the crowd. ‘Release him at once or I’ll swear I’ll break your neck.’

Glaring at his adversary, Clem opened his fingers slowly and Luke was free. No one dared to move or speak.

Luke straightened his coat then walked haughtily to his father’s side.

‘Your son,’ Clem said harshly, ‘your beloved well-brought-up son who should know better but obviously never will was bullying my daughter.’

Oliver shot a hard look at Kerensa. ‘Is this true?’

There was no mistaking Kerensa’s distress as she nodded and answered quietly, ‘I’m afraid it is.’

‘I, was not!’ Luke spoke up angrily. ‘We were playing a game and she,’ he stabbed a finger in Jessica’s direction, ‘wouldn’t—’

‘Be quiet, Luke!’ Oliver commanded, fixing his eyes on Clem’s face. ‘I will deal with my children’s misdemeanours, Trenchard. If you ever lay a hand on one of them again I’ll not only break your neck but every bone in your body as well.’

‘You just be sure your son never comes near my daughter again, not ever,’ Clem growled back, ‘Or it’ll be his neck you’ll have to watch out for.’

‘Why you—’ Oliver sprang forward with clenched fists raised.

‘Sir!’ Adam Renfree stepped smartly between the two warring men, his elbows out, prodding their ribs. ‘Tes Ted’s wedding day, sir.’

Clem was ready for a fight and Oliver, in his present state of mind, wanted more than anything to give him one, but Adam’s words struck home and the two men reluctantly drew back from each other.

‘Take your family home, Trenchard,’ Oliver snarled.

‘We’re not ready to go yet,’ Clem returned obstinately.

‘You will do as I say!’ Oliver exploded. ‘See to it, Adam!’ It was unthinkable that he should be disobeyed on his own property. With a short but sincere apology to the Trembaths he looked stonily for a moment at his culprit son then stalked off.

‘We’ll have to leave, Clem,’ an acutely embarrassed Alice said from his side. ‘For Ted and Lou’s sake, not ours.’

‘Get the children into the wagon,’ Clem told her, only just holding his anger back. ‘I’ll go find Rosie, she’s run off somewhere.’ He kissed little Jessica and shooed the disappointed twins after their mother.

Satisfied his employer’s orders were to be carried out, Adam gave Clem a reproachful look for disturbing the party then called to the fiddler and other musicians to begin playing again. The crowd of spectators dispersed, eager to get back to the food, drink and dancing, although some were disappointed there wasn’t going to be a brawl, reckoning it added to the enjoyment of any social gathering.